Storing a car for 3 months

[jacklewisno1]

Hello there,

Im being sent abroad for 3 months from around the end of November onwards and have come for some advice on how to look after the car while im away. The car in question is a 09 plate fiat 500, i have two options, either leave the car with a mate and store it in his garage connecting it up to a trickle charger or leaving it with my parents for them to use infrequently.

It would be more convenient to leave it with my friend, however im worried about brake corrosion, he's recommended spraying WD40 on the brakes to prevent it, would this work? And has anyone had any experience of trickle chargers and have any they could recommend?

Thanks for your time.

[illmonkey]

Probably better in GG as it'll be the same answer for most cars, not just Fiats.

But me, I'd ensure it was locked and walk away.

[M666 EVO]

jacklewisno1 said:

Hello there,

Im being sent abroad for 3 months from around the end of November onwards and have come for some advice on how to look after the car while im away. The car in question is a 09 plate fiat 500, i have two options, either leave the car with a mate and store it in his garage connecting it up to a trickle charger or leaving it with my parents for them to use infrequently.

It would be more convenient to leave it with my friend, however im worried about brake corrosion, he's recommended spraying WD40 on the brakes to prevent it, would this work? And has anyone had any experience of trickle chargers and have any they could recommend?

Thanks for your time.

Hi, I always put my car in storage for Winter (Nov til Mar), I give it Zagato Lancia and they charge me £100 PCM. I think they take the battery off and if the brakes do get a bit of rust on them, a quick drive will wear that off. I prefer storage as you know its not getting any extra miles on it...

[jacklewisno1]

M666 EVO said:

Hi, I always put my car in storage for Winter (Nov til Mar), I give it Zagato Lancia and they charge me £100 PCM. I think they take the battery off and if the brakes do get a bit of rust on them, a quick drive will wear that off. I prefer storage as you know its not getting any extra miles on it...

I looked into storing professionally but just couldn't justify the cost for a car of its value, probably more apt for a classic car i think. I dont think ill disconnect the battery as im worried about the affect it could have on the radio/trip computer. Im no mechanic but isnt there a chance the battery could go flat when disconnected?

[rijmij99]

less chance of it going flat disconnected than still on the car, thats why they can sit in a garage for two years and start a car straight away (personal experience) three months is no time for a modern car in my opinion, i left my 75 in a garage with a hole in the roof from october to april one year and it started up after a few turns.